2008 Goodguys Lone Star Nationals - Goodguys 16th Lone Star Nats

As school kids, the end of summer was almost as bad as having to visit the dentist (though there are those who didn't enjoy the extended break quite as much as others, suffice it to say). As the years passed, roles reversed, and unless you became a school teacher, chances are you look forward to September more than ever. In this profession, the time once spent frolicking at the beach is now no time for vacation--but it does mean travelling, and plenty of it. And as the month of September is about to peel off the calendar and put yet another grueling summer behind us, there's still one last blast to cap off our outdoor event season: The Goodguys Lone Star Nationals.

I, for one, particularly look forward to this show, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with it being on the tail end of our summer schedule--OK, well, it sort of does, a little. As much as I love California, I usually can't wait to leave it! (Sorry, Arnold.) And of all the places I'd most often rather be, the Dallas/Fort Worth area is right there at the top. I've had a hankering to move to Texas for some time now, so any chance to visit is highly anticipated. The fact that the Lone Star Nats is and has been a fantastic event--consistently big turnout, good-sized swap meet, and perfect venue--is the Cool Whip atop warm peach cobbler. On top of that, it's not too often you find actual NASCAR Cup cars speeding around a track such as the Texas Motor Speedway at an event, let alone ones you can ride and drive in! For even the casual fan of auto racing, that's a huge bonus attraction. If you've never experienced doing over 160 mph around a 1 1/2-mile oval with 24-degree banked turns, well, you need to.

To be very honest, even without the intermittent buzz of SB2 engines, the Lone Star Nats is well worth the price of admission, regardless if you're a participant, spectator, or potential parts scrounger. And whether it's the state of Texas or the people who occupy its vast boundaries that contribute more to the allure and success of this show is a matter of opinion, I guess--but it doesn't really matter now, does it? The 2009 17th Lone Star Nats will be upon us before you know it (October 2-4). Give the kids a belated back-to-school treat this year and take the whole family for a day or even the whole weekend at the speedway!